Pokemon Go Plus Review: As Engaging As It Is Frustrating

We spend some rigorous time with the highly desired Pokemon GO Plus peripheral, coming away both impressed and a little deflated by the companion accessory.

I've always thought of myself as technologically progressive. I have the new iPhone 7 Plus on back order, there's one of every gaming console currently found on the market in my possession, and I'll probably pick up a pair of the divisive AirPod headphones upon their release. As much as that trait may be a factor in day to day life, I'm also heavily nostalgic, which could very well be the reason for my continued support of the ever-popular Pokemon GO. So, the arrival of a device that paired with the game seemed like an all too appropriate purchase, but the end result left me with the acceptance that this item is an asset, albeit shrouded in a 'warts and all' mantra.

For anyone unsure of how the hardware functions, it's important to keep in mind how basic the product (appropriately titled Pokemon GO Plus) is designed. As a means of playing the game without having to physically wield a phone at all times, the peripheral works as advertised, utilizing a distinct number of vibrations and color flashes to indicate what's happening around the player – all sans screen. It's a rather simple layout: Green means there's a previously obtained wild Pokemon in the area; Yellow indicates there's a never before captured beast in the vicinity; Blue implies that there's a PokeStop nearby; and Red means that the creature has fled.

As a major plus (pun somewhat intended), users will be constantly emptying their virtual bags in order to make room for all of the additional items they'll undoubtedly be gathering from PokeStops. Obviously, catching Pocket Monsters is the main reason to own the device, but since it only hurls standard Pokeballs at them it's not overly practical for those hoping to stockpile candies from rare 'mons. In fact, the higher the level of the individual, the stronger the Pokemon tend to be, and in most cases this means that the tried and true Pokeball is not enough to condemn these monsters to life on a mobile device. In that regard, this is not an ideal way to go about experiencing the title.